San Francisco 49ers hope Aldon Smith will return after bye

A month has passed since Aldon Smith left the San Francisco 49ers to enter rehab following a DUI arrest, and the team is still hoping to have him back after the bye week.

The 5-2 49ers face the Jacksonville Jaguars this week in London and then go on their bye week. Six weeks will have passed when the team returns for their Week 10 game the Carolina Panthers. Will that be long enough for Smith to return to the team? GM Trent Baalke answered that question for 49ers reporters on Thursday.

“Our ultimate goal hasn’t changed: help Aldon get back to a place he feels very comfortable and move forward in a very positive manner,” Baalke said via the San Jose Mercury News. “We’re obviously hopeful (for a return after the bye). At the same time, we’re prepared for either outcome.

“It’s like anything, you’re developing that trust factor again. We all understand, including Aldon, that situations like this have to be in the past.”

I really think this could go either way. Six weeks is a long time to be in rehab and away from the team, and keep in mind an initial report said he could miss five weeks. He probably would only need a week of practice to get back in shape to play. I wouldn’t be pushing for a return earlier than necessary, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith returned in Week 10.